GPT-5 Image Mini vs Sonar Pro Search
Updated October 21, 2026. No benchmark has tested both models yet. Coding is ranked on the Vibe Coding Index; every other board is shown as published.
- Coding
- No data
- Overall
- No data
- Output $/M
- $2.00
- Coding
- No data
- Overall
- No data
- Output $/M
- $15.00
Decision reading
Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding.
GPT-5 Image Mini has the edge where output tokens cost 7.5x less, and where the context window is larger, 400K against 200K tokens.
No benchmark has tested both yet. GPT-5 Image Mini has results on Design Arena: images, Design Arena: graphic design and Design Arena: logos; Sonar Pro Search has none yet. Compare them on price and context instead.
Which one for your work
Each card is decided by one number both models carry. Where only one has it, the card says so and makes no call.
Coding
Vibe Coding Index, six public coding benchmarks
No call
Neither has a coding score yet.
One side not measured
Image generation
Design Arena: images
No call
Only GPT-5 Image Mini has a Design Arena: images result, 1184.
Directional only
Long documents
Listed context window
GPT-5 Image Mini
GPT-5 Image Mini takes 400K tokens against 200K.
Listed by OpenRouter
Everyday cost
1K input + 500 output tokens
GPT-5 Image Mini
GPT-5 Image Mini $0.0035, Sonar Pro Search $0.011 per turn.
List prices
At a glance
- Coding index
- GPT-5 Image Mini not benchmarked, Sonar Pro Search not benchmarked.
- Widest category
- None yet: no category has been tested on both models.
- Widest single gap
- None yet: no benchmark has tested both models.
- Output price
- GPT-5 Image Mini $2.00 against Sonar Pro Search $15.00 per million output tokens, 7.5x apart.
- Context window
- GPT-5 Image Mini takes 400K tokens, Sonar Pro Search 200K.
Benchmark by benchmark
Every board either model has a result on, a category to a fold; bars are each result on a 0 to 100 scale. Only one model is measured on each, so no row names a leader.
Image generationDirectional onlyPublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index3 boards measured
| Benchmark | GPT-5 Image Mini | Sonar Pro Search | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Arena: images | 1184 | Not measured | Only GPT-5 Image Mini measured |
| Design Arena: graphic design | 1165 | Not measured | Only GPT-5 Image Mini measured |
| Design Arena: logos | 1209 | Not measured | Only GPT-5 Image Mini measured |
| Neither model has a result on the other 2 boards here | |||
What each workload costs
Three fixed token mixes at each model's listed price, so per-token rates become a bill.
Chat turn
1K input + 500 output tokens
GPT-5 Image Mini costs less
Repository review
50K input + 3K output tokens
GPT-5 Image Mini costs less
Agent loop
200K input + 10K output tokens
GPT-5 Image Mini costs less
Listed OpenRouter rates, without cache or batch discounts. A workload that does not fit a model's context window would need splitting.
Specification differences
The leading value in a row is marked; a row with a missing value names no leader. Our two rows are marked in red.
| Specification | OpenAI GPT-5 Image Mini | Perplexity Sonar Pro Search |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | OpenAI | Perplexity |
| Weights | No public weights listed | No public weights listed |
| Released | October 16, 2025 | October 30, 2025 |
| Context window | 400K | 200K |
| Input $/Mtok | $2.50 | $3.00 |
| Output $/Mtok | $2.00 | $15.00 |
| Coding index | Not benchmarked | Not benchmarked |
| Independent measurements behind it | 0 | 0 |
| Cost per solved task | Not computable | Not computable |
| Source | OpenRouter listing | OpenRouter listing |
Questions
Is GPT-5 Image Mini better than Sonar Pro Search for coding?
Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding. GPT-5 Image Mini has the edge where output tokens cost 7.5x less, and where the context window is larger, 400K against 200K tokens.
Which is cheaper, GPT-5 Image Mini or Sonar Pro Search?
GPT-5 Image Mini costs $2.50 per million input tokens and $2.00 per million output tokens; Sonar Pro Search costs $3.00 and $15.00. Cost per solved task is known for neither of them.
Which has the bigger context window, GPT-5 Image Mini or Sonar Pro Search?
GPT-5 Image Mini, with 400K tokens against 200K.
Has any benchmark tested both GPT-5 Image Mini and Sonar Pro Search?
No benchmark has tested both yet. GPT-5 Image Mini has results on Design Arena: images, Design Arena: graphic design and Design Arena: logos; Sonar Pro Search has none yet. Compare them on price and context instead. Data as of October 21, 2026.